Taranaki police investigate death of baby girl

File photo / NZ Herald

The death of a baby girl in Taranaki today may have been been a tragic accident caused by a falling household object.

An investigation was launched into the death of the 4-month-old girl after police and ambulance services were called to a house in central Hawera shortly after 12pm.

The infant was found unresponsive and despite paramedics' attempts to resuscitate her, the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

An examination of the property was carried out today, and police officers were speaking to the baby's family.

A post-mortem examination was scheduled for tomorrow, but Inspector Mike Coleman of the police central communications centre said it did not appear to have been a medical event.

Exact details were not known, but it appeared the death was "an accident" caused by an object, such as a television, falling on the infant, Mr Coleman said.

He would not say whether the girl's parents were being treated as suspects, only saying that all angles "would have to be investigated".

"Obviously, the family are very distressed," he said.

Victim Support had been brought in to help the family.

Earlier today, Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Matuku, officer in charge of the investigation, said the death was being treated as unexplained.

"At this stage we don't have a clear picture of the circumstances surrounding the baby's death, therefore we are treating it as unexplained at this stage," he said.

Local people in Hawera contacted by NZME. News Service were unaware of the circumstances around the baby's death.

Hawera councillor Mike Powell said the death was "very tragic", and had come as a surprise to the close-knit town.

"Obviously, nobody likes to hear about the death of a young child," he said.

Fellow councillor Garth Weir said it was sad news as "all babies are precious".